Ranking the Bearcats RBs since 2009
It’s July and there are only so many things you can write about in the Bearcats off season and there are only so many breweries you can visit for the first time so I decided it was high time we power rank the Bearcats backfield from the last 10 years. The following 10 guys have a range of skills and electrified Nippert at some point in time. Now they’re ranked.
10. Gerrid Doaks
By the time it’s all said and done Doaks will be higher on this list than number 10. He showed great promise in his first season as a Bearcat before sitting out the 2018 season with an injury. In 2017 Doaks rushed for 513 yards averaging 5.8 yard per carry. He also caught 14 passes for 135 yards. He scored just 3 times in his lone season. Doaks is due for a big reemergence into Coach Luke Fickell’s run heavy offense. If you’re an opposing defense, you’ve been warned.
9. Ralph David Abernathy IV
RDA4 is a unique case because he started out as a RB and basically switched to a WR from one season to the next and then when Butch moved down south to Tennesee, RDA4 went with him. While in a Bearcats uniform he recorded 518 rushing yards, 218 receiving yards, and 5 touchdowns. The thing to remember about RDA4 is he was fast and played anywhere he was needed.
8. Rod Moore
Moore played for the Bearcats for two seasons and put up 631 rushing yards, 136 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns.
7. Hosey Williams
Hosey Williams, work horse. Williams racked up over 1500 yards in 3 seasons with the Bearcats and scored 8 touchdowns. That first highlight against Miami (FL) where the DB has him wrapped and essentially down but Williams keeps chopping and breaks loose his his skill set in a nutshell.
6. Jacob Ramsey
If you’re a new fan of Bearcats football you might not be very familiar with Ramsey. He played for the Bearcats from 2006 to 2009. Ramsey put up a very respectable career for the red and black. He rushed for over 1400 yards, 275 receiving yards and 12 total touchdowns.
5. Tion Green
When I think of Green I think a more traditional back. He had good size, always ran down hill and if he got a head of steam was like a bowling ball, he would just run you over. Green collected 2072 career rushing yards, 300 receiving yards and 19 total touchdowns. Green signed with the Detroit Lions after going undrafted and is currently a free agent.
4. George Winn
I don’t want to say George Winn was a surprise when he took over the RB1 spot from Isaiah Pead after he was drafted but his senior season was BIG. He rushed for 1334 yards in 2012. The most rushing yards in a season on this list. He totaled just over 1700 for his career and hit pay dirt a total of 15 times in his career, 13 of those coming his senior year. Remember that time Winn threw a touchdown jump pass to Travis Kelce? Winn came in like a wrecking ball (yes that’s a Miley reference) Pitt didn’t know what to expect when they came to Nippert for the first game of the season his senior year.
3. Mike Boone
Mike Boone was a great back on a couple of “less than average” Bearcats teams. Boone suited up for the Bearcats from 2014-2017. He massed a total of 2250 rushing yards, 596 receiving yards, and a total of 25 touchdowns. The Wildcat offense was always an option with Boone in the backfield. Boone made those plays look easy, walking into the endzone untouched on more than one occasion. Boone was a bully that you knew could get you what you needed. That’s why you gave him the ball. The good thing about Boone now is you can watch him play on Sundays for the Minnesota Vikings.
2. Mike Warren II
Recency bias is a thing but I’m pretty confident in this ranking for The Truck. The Toledo, OH product had a breakout sophomore season last year. Warren rushed for 1329 yards last season. He’s one of two RBs on this list to break that 1300 yard mark in a single season. Maybe more impressive than that is his 20 touchdowns, 19 rushing and 1 receiving in a single season. He has 21 touchdowns in his career, so far. Warren II lives up to his nickname The Truck because it seems like it takes two or three guys to bring him down. A guy his size shouldn’t be able to cut, stop, accelerate, and takeoff like he can. I think he only gets better as his career progresses over the next two seasons though his stats might take a hit if Doaks is completely healthy again. One thing for sure Warren II is fun to watch because he’s always primed to break the first contact and go the distance.
1.Isaiah Pead
This one is obvious. The guy rushed for almost 3300 yards in his career as a Bearcat. He scored a total of 33 touchdowns and played on the greatest UC football team ever to step onto the gridiron. When he got the ball he was electric and once he got past you it was over. He was a fast back that could pack a punch. Pead burned everyone from Pitt, West Virginia, Louisville, Tennessee and Oklahoma, it didn’t matter. His career average per carry was 6 yards! He had everything there was to have in his repertoire a great back needs. Speed, physicality, the ability to stop on a dime, slashing, cutting, leaping and running down hill. Not to mention his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. On top of everything he was a cool down to Earth dude off the field. Was the Columbus, OH product the total package? Undoubtedly.
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